Americans awake to the reality of President Trump
That’s according to a Washington Post – Ipsos poll that mirrors findings in other recent polls taking America’s temperature when it comes to the reign of Donald J. Trump.
Before digging into the stats, regular followers may recall that I said #47 would go too far (it is in his nature) and there would be backlash.
Polling suggests he is triggering the gag reflex, although big backlash has not yet materialized.
Trump is still as wildly loved by Republicans as pizza and beer (not Bud Light), but they are not the majority. (Neither are Democrats.)
Trump talks about a “mandate,” but he did not receive a majority of votes cast. He was close — 49.8%, but that is not a majority. He did not win bigly.
Still, he did win the popular vote and his populist appeal to grievances in American life resonated with many Americans, including Democrats who believed their party has lost its frigging mind.
And his numbers rose not just among white people. He won 43% of the Hispanic vote. He won 20% of the Black vote — not a lot, but the greatest since George W. Bush in 2000.
Voters wanted change. Trump promised change. But this much?
The charts embedded in this story tell the story of his policies’ popularity, but not the whole story. In fact, this story does not cover the entire poll.
My observation was that Trump’s end game, by crossing lines and defying rules, regulations, customs, traditions, and laws, was to get to the Supreme Court.
My prediction was that when he gets there, he will be disappointed more often than not because the conservatives on the court believe the Constitution means what it says and if Trump violates it, they will smack him down.
What happens when — or if — Trump refuses to obey court orders?
That truly will be a constitutional crisis.
I can’t see how the U.S. Supreme Court can let him get away with that.
As strict constructionists, SCOTUS must support the courts as a co-equal branch of government, even if the yellow belly Republicans in congress have not stood tall so far.
Aside from soon-to-retire Mitch McConnell, the only Republicans with balls enough to defy Trump are two women — Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
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The poll is a mixed bag, but less favorable to Trump than other recent polls, which could mean it is wrong, or that his numbers really are slipping. We will learn more from polls in the weeks ahead.
Most worrisome for Trump should be the declining favor of some of his signature moves, especially those spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk.
First, the good news: Trump’s deportation of illegals plans still resonate with a majority of Americans.
Second, not covered in this poll was his order banning biological men from competing against women. Everything I have read shows the popularity of that order ranging from 60 to 80%.
Not including it shows either a remarkable editorial amnesia on the part of the Post, or a deliberate effort to tilt results against Trump, because the poll did include a stat showing most Americans disapprove of banning trans from military service. Why that trans question, but not the other?
The bad news for Trump is that Americans oppose shutting down USAID 59-38%, most oppose tariffs, except on China, most oppose mass firing of government employees 58-39, most Americans, 63-34, dislike Musk getting access to their records.Trump’s handling of the economy is frowned on, 53-45, while even 70% of Republicans dislike Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons. That has been his least-popular move.
His overall approval numbers are in the mid-40s, which is not unusual, notes the Washington Post.
But he ain’t done yet.
